Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
- Thread starter NeoDog
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Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
I'm a big fan of Bogner amps. I remember when Reinhold opened his business inside Make'N'Music on Lankershim Blvd, N Hollywood. I was using old modded Marshalls and Blues Pearl Fender clones, but didn't want to lug 2 amps just to have great tone. I went in and discovered the Ecstasy halfstack, and was SO blown away by it that it haunted me for years, knowing I couldn't afford it.
I finally found my white chassis Ecstasy (loaded version) from a N. Hollywood resident, who owned 3 of them. Mine was his favorite, and the last one he sold. I got it in mint cond. for $2175. Then later, I got the matching 4-12 and large 2-12. I love the Ecstasy more than any other piece of gear I own.
However, it is a very loud monster of an amp.
I also really like the other Bogner amps, and if I had it my way, I'd own nearly all of them. If I were you, I'd buy the Shiva EL-34 Reverb head and the large 2-12 cab w/Vin 30/H30. If I didn't have my amps, that's what I'd go out and get. I'm always looking at what pops up on the used market, because the new prices are too much for this muso.....and most others.
I'm a big fan of Bogner amps. I remember when Reinhold opened his business inside Make'N'Music on Lankershim Blvd, N Hollywood. I was using old modded Marshalls and Blues Pearl Fender clones, but didn't want to lug 2 amps just to have great tone. I went in and discovered the Ecstasy halfstack, and was SO blown away by it that it haunted me for years, knowing I couldn't afford it.
I finally found my white chassis Ecstasy (loaded version) from a N. Hollywood resident, who owned 3 of them. Mine was his favorite, and the last one he sold. I got it in mint cond. for $2175. Then later, I got the matching 4-12 and large 2-12. I love the Ecstasy more than any other piece of gear I own.
However, it is a very loud monster of an amp.
I also really like the other Bogner amps, and if I had it my way, I'd own nearly all of them. If I were you, I'd buy the Shiva EL-34 Reverb head and the large 2-12 cab w/Vin 30/H30. If I didn't have my amps, that's what I'd go out and get. I'm always looking at what pops up on the used market, because the new prices are too much for this muso.....and most others.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
That's good to know man. I've been haunted myself by the XTC 101B Classic and the Shiva EL34 for years. I've been leaning toward the Shiva, but was still considering the XTC. I'll keep leaning towards the Shiva based on what you've said (and it doesn't hurt that it's quite a bit cheaper). Less options than the XTC for sure, but PURE tone. Mmmmm....
That's good to know man. I've been haunted myself by the XTC 101B Classic and the Shiva EL34 for years. I've been leaning toward the Shiva, but was still considering the XTC. I'll keep leaning towards the Shiva based on what you've said (and it doesn't hurt that it's quite a bit cheaper). Less options than the XTC for sure, but PURE tone. Mmmmm....
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
Big Shiva EL-34 w/ Reverb advocate here. I've been using mine for the past 2 years and I can always count on it. Gorgeous, full bodied and chimey cleans with a sickening overdrive channel (it's like a refined JCM 800 with more gain). It's very responsive to what guitars you use through it and what output the pickups are.
With my McCarty w/ Wolfetone Marshallheads, it gets really fat, warm, full bodied tones, lead playing is effortless (tons of sustain). Put my LP Special DC w/ Wolfetone Mean/Meaner P90s and the overdrive is crunchy and aggressive (my favorite). Put my EJ Strat in front of it and it gets some gritty overdrive tones and some really sweet funk tones for the cleans.
It's the first amp that has made me stop searching. I got sick of thin sounding amps with no sag to the sound and harsh clipping. With a few pedals, I can run the gamut from funk to metal. I can't believe what a big sound I get too; it cuts, but sits in the band mix well without dominating any other instruments. I use a 1x12'' w/ a Celestion Classic Lead 80 for band practice and for home/gigs, I play through a 4x12'' with all Vintage 30s. Amazing tone from both setups.
Big Shiva EL-34 w/ Reverb advocate here. I've been using mine for the past 2 years and I can always count on it. Gorgeous, full bodied and chimey cleans with a sickening overdrive channel (it's like a refined JCM 800 with more gain). It's very responsive to what guitars you use through it and what output the pickups are.
With my McCarty w/ Wolfetone Marshallheads, it gets really fat, warm, full bodied tones, lead playing is effortless (tons of sustain). Put my LP Special DC w/ Wolfetone Mean/Meaner P90s and the overdrive is crunchy and aggressive (my favorite). Put my EJ Strat in front of it and it gets some gritty overdrive tones and some really sweet funk tones for the cleans.
It's the first amp that has made me stop searching. I got sick of thin sounding amps with no sag to the sound and harsh clipping. With a few pedals, I can run the gamut from funk to metal. I can't believe what a big sound I get too; it cuts, but sits in the band mix well without dominating any other instruments. I use a 1x12'' w/ a Celestion Classic Lead 80 for band practice and for home/gigs, I play through a 4x12'' with all Vintage 30s. Amazing tone from both setups.
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J Moose
New member
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
I'm kinda interested in the Duende head myself...
Two channels, trem, verb... 2 6V6's for about 15-20 watts...
Seems like it could be just the ticket for recording, gigs in small places & playin' round the house.
What's the tone like compared to the Ecstasy Classic & Uberschall? Same kind of attack & grind? There's such a 'presence' to those amps...
I always LOVE how they sit in a mix...they just kinda fall into place naturally.
Then again, the guys who've owned & played them when I hang mics up have been steller players & could make a Pignose sound huge...
That always helps!
I'm kinda interested in the Duende head myself...
Two channels, trem, verb... 2 6V6's for about 15-20 watts...
Seems like it could be just the ticket for recording, gigs in small places & playin' round the house.
What's the tone like compared to the Ecstasy Classic & Uberschall? Same kind of attack & grind? There's such a 'presence' to those amps...
I always LOVE how they sit in a mix...they just kinda fall into place naturally.
Then again, the guys who've owned & played them when I hang mics up have been steller players & could make a Pignose sound huge...
That always helps!
pixelpusher
New member
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
i've had my el34 shiva for about 6 weeks now. I thought i wanted the 6l6 cuz i like the sound of them (that's what i run in my Mesa trem-o-verb) but when i played them side by side i fell in love with the el34.
I find that it has a pretty good amount of headroom on the clean channel and depending how you dial it it can get up to a really sweet sizzle that makes for really golden blues leads. the extra 20 watts of the el34 version isn't a ton but it may give you the headroom you're looking for.
I'm currently running it through my mesa recto 2x12 cab w. v30's but am going to probably pick up the big bogner 2x12 in a couple of weeks or maybe get the knockoff avatar version (half price but i am retardedly slavish to getting the "matching" gear)
Last night i threw down a couple of beers and just just played straight into the amp for a few hours noodling around.. It's a SICK amp... such sweet tones man ... i only quit cuz it got to be around 1 am and even though my neighbors are cool and it was fri. night i don't want to piss them off so i can keep making "reasonable" amounts of noise
i've had my el34 shiva for about 6 weeks now. I thought i wanted the 6l6 cuz i like the sound of them (that's what i run in my Mesa trem-o-verb) but when i played them side by side i fell in love with the el34.
I find that it has a pretty good amount of headroom on the clean channel and depending how you dial it it can get up to a really sweet sizzle that makes for really golden blues leads. the extra 20 watts of the el34 version isn't a ton but it may give you the headroom you're looking for.
I'm currently running it through my mesa recto 2x12 cab w. v30's but am going to probably pick up the big bogner 2x12 in a couple of weeks or maybe get the knockoff avatar version (half price but i am retardedly slavish to getting the "matching" gear)
Last night i threw down a couple of beers and just just played straight into the amp for a few hours noodling around.. It's a SICK amp... such sweet tones man ... i only quit cuz it got to be around 1 am and even though my neighbors are cool and it was fri. night i don't want to piss them off so i can keep making "reasonable" amounts of noise
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Bludave
New member
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
I have an EL34 1 12" Combo. As Cris said its a pretty dynamic amp. It has a good amount of headroom in the clean channel, but not unlimited, so the "hair" as you mentioned should be there. This can be controlled with the volume knob on your guitar. The drive channel with humbuckers is beautiful. Full, rich and harmonis. Plenty of sustain. With singles it can be as sweet as any Fender I have used.
I use a few primary guitar with no issues. A 335, a Clapton Strat, a variety of Teles and a Shecter Tempest with Antiquity P90's. ALL my guitars sound great thru this amp. I use a TS9 modded by Stratdeluxer in the clean channel, so this gives me 3 very different sounds with it. Great amp, but my suspicion is if you were not happy with the 6L6 model I don't think this will be that much different. The EL34 has a tad stronger bottom and the High end is not as crisp (from what I remember playing thru one). Other than that I think they are pretty similar in tone. You might want to look at the Extacy 101B. Its a little more money, but the 3 channels offer a little more versatilty and variations of tone.
I have an EL34 1 12" Combo. As Cris said its a pretty dynamic amp. It has a good amount of headroom in the clean channel, but not unlimited, so the "hair" as you mentioned should be there. This can be controlled with the volume knob on your guitar. The drive channel with humbuckers is beautiful. Full, rich and harmonis. Plenty of sustain. With singles it can be as sweet as any Fender I have used.
I use a few primary guitar with no issues. A 335, a Clapton Strat, a variety of Teles and a Shecter Tempest with Antiquity P90's. ALL my guitars sound great thru this amp. I use a TS9 modded by Stratdeluxer in the clean channel, so this gives me 3 very different sounds with it. Great amp, but my suspicion is if you were not happy with the 6L6 model I don't think this will be that much different. The EL34 has a tad stronger bottom and the High end is not as crisp (from what I remember playing thru one). Other than that I think they are pretty similar in tone. You might want to look at the Extacy 101B. Its a little more money, but the 3 channels offer a little more versatilty and variations of tone.
RockStarNick
New member
Re: Anyone Playing Bogner Amps?
I'm a huge Bogner fan. I have a Shiva EL34 and can't imagine my life and tone without it. I'd get another one in a heartbeat.
Basically, Neodog, if you like using overdrive pedals, try out a metropolis. If you want your drive from your amp, stick with the shiva.
Why did you get rid of your 6L6 shiva anyway? That was probably a great amp!!!
I've tried a Metropolis. It's basically Bogner's take on a vox. It's chimey, and definiltey class A sounding, but it has that relentless bogner "in your face lower mids" that take whatever you can throw at them, and kick right back.
I think if it's one thing that defines the bogner sound, it's those lower mids added to that british crunch. It's just such a powerful drive sound.
Try out a metropolis. I think you'll like it...
I'm a huge Bogner fan. I have a Shiva EL34 and can't imagine my life and tone without it. I'd get another one in a heartbeat.
Basically, Neodog, if you like using overdrive pedals, try out a metropolis. If you want your drive from your amp, stick with the shiva.
Why did you get rid of your 6L6 shiva anyway? That was probably a great amp!!!
I've tried a Metropolis. It's basically Bogner's take on a vox. It's chimey, and definiltey class A sounding, but it has that relentless bogner "in your face lower mids" that take whatever you can throw at them, and kick right back.
I think if it's one thing that defines the bogner sound, it's those lower mids added to that british crunch. It's just such a powerful drive sound.
Try out a metropolis. I think you'll like it...
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